We hired ours privately (sadly we don't have one any more though, hence house now unclean), although we looked at some agencies as well. Average for Yorks seems to be about £8 an hour and most wanted 2 - 3 hours to clean our small 3 bed semi.

Things to consider - do they bring their own cleaning equipment or use yours; if agency, is it the same cleaner each week (often they are not); what will they clean in the kitchen - a lot will not do the oven, hob etc.

Agency, £8/hr. We have three kids and the muddiest dog ever and are an untidy lot. So have three hours, twice a week to do midlifetowers, which is 7 bedroom, three bath and six downstairs rooms. It's a bit of a bonus that the cleaners are two 21 year old girls who prefer working in lycra and gym gear rather than an old dear in an apron. For the stainless steel range, I'm told baby oil is the thing to make them look good, but we got a spray of steel cleaner with our Mercury which is excellent, makes it look like new in minutes.

It's a bit of a bonus that the cleaners are two 21 year old girls who prefer working in lycra and gym gear rather than an old dear in an apron. For the stainless steel range, I'm told baby oil is the thing to make them look good